How to Chop Cilantro Recipe
Chopped cilantro is a simple way to elevate your favorite recipes and give added freshness. As a home cook, I always make sure I have my spice cabinet filled with dried herbs and spices, as well as having some fresh herbs to incorporate into my everyday cooking.
Equipment
- 1 chopping board
Ingredients
- 1 bunch of cilantro
- 1 sharp chef's knife
Instructions
- Remove leaves from the stem of a washed and dried cilantro bunch. Combine the leaves into a small pile onto a cutting board.
- Using a sharp chef's knife, start at one end of the pile and use a small rocking motion in one direction.
- Turn the leaves a quarter turn and using the same method, chop the leaves until they are finely chopped.
Notes
- The best way to chop cilantro is with a good sharp knife. Since cilantro is a soft leafy herb you want to chop in a rocking motion with as sharp of a knife as possible. You can damage the herbs delicate stems by sawing the leaves, turning them brown.
- You will want to remove the leaves by gently plucking them from the stem or using your knife to chop the leaves from the stem. Once the leaves are removed, you want to combine them into a small pile and gently chop the leaves in one direction using a rocking method. You will want to go back through the pile of leaves in the opposite direction, using the same method until they are finely chopped.
- If you are using your cilantro in a sauce or rub, you can save some time by chopping it in a food processor. Place the washed cilantro into the bowl of the food processor. Hold the button for 2-3 seconds at a time until the cilantro is chopped to the desired consistency. This method is not recommended if you plan on using the herb as a garnish, since the blades can damage the leaves and turn the cilantro brown.